Lots has happened, but little news...

We've been going like gangbusters since my parents arrived on Friday, June 6, for Nathan's graduation. So hard and fast that I have had no opportunities to blog, and there really hasn't been much newsworthy stuff anyway...kind of a dull frenzy.
Nathan had a lovely (but long) graduation ceremony on Friday evening. Each graduate wrote a little blurb about themselves, which was read as they crossed the stage. There were 200+ graduates. So, while it was really nice that each got there moment of fame, it did make for a long evening. Thankfully the speeches were short. After the ceremony, Nathan, Don, and I, and two sets of grandparents (Don's parents, and my mom and Lee) came home for cake and some presents. Don and Waneta got Nathan a lovely citizen watch that's diver-certified, so he'll be able to wear it in the Coast Guard with no problems. Don and I got Nathan a portable DVD player, which he really wanted for his summer job at Quadra this summer. Mom and Lee had already given Nathan his present (cash, and a lot of it) when he was a little short paying for prom expenses. Pesky prom...
We did have a bit of a hiccup on Friday night. When we got home from the ceremony we found out that there had been a bathtub accident whereby Patience pushed Jordyn, who then fell in such a way as to cut her chin. A short, deep cut that looked like stitches were going to be in order. We called the emergency room who told us that while they couldn't estimate the wait time, they were pretty busy. So we put steri strips on it, gave her Tylenol and waited until morning.
The next morning Don took Jordyn to the walk-in clinic while Mom, Lee, Patience, the boys, and I all headed to Old Navy. The boys were looking at some trendy plaid shorts and since Mom and Lee have these magic 20% off discount cards, we try to wait for their visit to do any shopping at Old Navy. And lo and behold, they were having a huge 40% off sale of all mens clothes in honor of Father's Day! The boys each got a couple of outfits, and even Lee got in on the action and bought some jeans and a new t-shirt.
From Old Navy, we headed over to Costco. Don and I have given up our Costco membership so we wanted to make a quick trip while Mom and Lee were here. We stocked up on staples. The flour is nearly double the price it was at Christmastime. Yikes. But we now have enough staples to last us until the next time Mom and Lee bring their membership card! After Costco, Mom and I brought the girls home and put them down for a nap and then we worked for a long time reorganizing my pantry to make room for all the new food. We got it all to fit!
Don, Lee, and Sean had gone from Costco over to Best Buy because Don had his birthday gift card burning a hole in his pocket. He bought a surround-sound system for the big-screen t.v., but right now it happens to be hooked up to Sean's computer. Halo 2 is so much more fun in surround sound.
When Don and Lee got home, Don said that he'd really like to go to Old Navy, since he missed our morning excursion tending to Jordyn (who ended up not getting stitched, just super-glued). So, we left the still-sleeping girls in the capable hands of their brothers and the four of us headed back to Old Navy. Don got 6 or 7 outfits, mostly shorts (since he still has shorts from the 80s in his closet) and some new, cool shirts. We came home and he purged lots of clothes out of the closet and armoire to make room for his new wardrobe. The old clothes are getting donated.
And that was just the first 24 hours of their visit!
On Sunday we went to church, came home and had deli-style sandwiches, and then put the girls to bed. While the boys babysat, the four adults went to Fort Langley for a little stroll. We've wanted to do this with Mom and Lee for the longest time, but this is the first time we've been able to carve out a slice of time for it. We came home and prepared a delicious salmon dinner, and then the adults and Nathan headed to church for the graduation celebration/dessert/slide show. It was really nice.
On Monday Mom, Lee, the girls, and I headed back to Langley to go to WalMart. Mom and Lee bought us some bathroom rugs and I bought a huge mirror with a black frame to go in the boys' suite over the fireplace. I've been wanting something like that since we finished the room. Lee and I hung it while the girls napped. That evening the adults went to watch the One Act Festival at D.W. Poppy; Nathan was directing one of the plays. It was a late evening and we stayed up visiting even later.
Yesterday Mom and Lee left in the late morning, while Patience was in preschool. She was not a happy camper to come home and find Grandma and Papa gone, but she'll see them on Saturday so that will help ease the pain. And then they'll come back in August for Nathan's launch party! And then back in September for the new baby's arrival! I'm telling ya, Mom is retiring from her job just in the nick of time!
Mom and Lee are staying with Val for their graduation festivities this week. Kelsey graduates from highschool tonight, and Val from Whatcom Community College on Friday night. On Saturday Mom and Lee are hosting a Dad/Grad barbeque.
Tonight we are going to the D.W. Poppy talent show to hear Dylan's duet. And then we'll be done with end-of-the-year festivities until Sean's Grade 7 Farewell on the 24th. Which is good, because I'm tired.
Oh, tomorrow I have an ultrasound. I'm hoping, hoping, hoping that this baby is cooperative and lets us see his/her private parts. I'm about going crazy not knowing what this is...
And then tomorrow afternoon Dylan and Sean both have orthodontist appointments. We're going in to see if Dr. Woo thinks Sean is a candidate for braces or not.
I'll update tomorrow with gender news (Lord willing).